Relationship between police and disaffected must be swiftly healed

It is a sad day when trust between police and the citizens they serve break down. But that is what seemingly has happened in Hong Kong, with relations sinking as a result of clashes following protests over the extradition bill.

A campaign is under way calling into question the good name of the force and the officers who carry out its duties. The approach is unjust; police are politically neutral and work for the common good.

Worries are rife about morale in police ranks. Retired officers and defenders of the force will hold a rally of support tomorrow. Protesters have besieged police headquarters in Wan Chai, preventing the carrying out of duties, insulting officers and daubing obscenities on walls.

Among outrages on social media, there has been the publishing of the names and personal details of hundreds of officers and addresses, leading to harassment and bullying.

Protesters allege police used excessive force to break up demonstrations in Admiralty on June 12 and object to initially being labelled rioters, although police chief Stephen Lo Wai-chung later stepped back from the tag.

Several videos that have gone viral appear to back claims that unwarranted action was at times taken against peaceful citizens, while arrests at public hospitals of those injured have heightened anger. That is the protesters’ side of the story, though; police speak of a small group of hardened troublemakers intent on violence and of laws being broken.

Their case has not been helped by senior officials keeping a low profile throughout. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor met police union leaders on Thursday to assure them of her administration’s support, but the talks were out of the public spotlight at Government House.

Carrie Lam reaches out to allies as fugitive bill protesters push on with campaign

Hong Kong police were once respected to the point that children dreamed of one day becoming officers. But the Occupy protests in 2014 fractured relations with citizens, initial efforts to clear streets being perceived as heavy-handed.

Great effort was made to mend ties and at functions earlier this year marking the force’s 175th anniversary, a resurgence of interest in joining the ranks was evident. But all that good work has now been in vain.

Protests that turn violent are unusual in Hong Kong and some frontline police would seem to have overreacted. There is a need for more astute training in crowd control, especially when dealing with protests involving sensitive political issues.

But hounding police is no way to express anger; there are tried-and-tested routes in the Complaints Against Police Office and the Independent Police Complaints Council. Officers have an integral role in protecting the rule of law and their job is not about politics, but law and order. For the good of the city, the broken relationship between police and disaffected citizens has to be swiftly mended.